Apparatus for displaying and vending cigars and other articles.



W. G. .I. COLLINS.

APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AND VENDING CIGARS AND OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 6'. I913.

Patented M1213, I915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I I IIIIII W IIIIII II NINE THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTG-LITHO-, WASHINGTON. D. C,

. COLLINS.

APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AND VENDING CIGARS AND OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MN 6, ISIS.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM G. J. COLLINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED CIGAR MANU- FACTURERS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AND VENDING CIGARS AND OTHER ARTICLES.

Application filed January 6, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM G. J. COL- LINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Displaying and Vending Cigars and other Articles, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The present invention while obviously applicable to other uses is especially designed to provide an improved construction of apparatus for the convenient display and vending of cigars of the kind which are usually inclosed in tin cans or boxes.

An example of this type of apparatus is illustrated in an application, Serial No. 678,538, filed by me in the United States Patent Office February 19, 1912, and allowed August 21, 1912.

The invention consists in the various features of novelty hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my invention, parts being broken away for better illustration. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section (upon an enlarged scale) on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a view in central cross section through the apparatus. Fig. t is a detail view of one form of can especially adapted for use with my improved apparatus. Fig. 5 is a view showing the base of a machine provided with a modified form of means for interlocking the cans therewith. Fig. 6 is a View on line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the lower portion of a round can having its bottom wall provided with means for interlocking with the base support shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In many retail cigar stores, it is customary to place upon a show-case or counter, boxes or cans of rapid selling cigars where they can be conveniently reached by the intending purchaser. Manufacturers of such cigars are disposed to furnish to retailers free of charge, apparatus for holding the boxes or cans of cigars of their own manu facture in such manner that these cigars can Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915..

Serial No. 740,884.

facturer than the one who has furnished the apparatus.

One primary object of my, invention is to provide a can and means for supporting and displaying the contents thereof of such construction that such apparatus can be used only with the special construction of cans for which it is specifically intended. This feature of my invention, while shown in the accompanying drawings as applied to an apparatus in which the can support is stationary, will be found equally applicable to the type of apparatus (such as set forth in my above mentioned application Serial No. 678,538) in which provision is made for tilting the cans forwardly as the cover is raised to expose the cigars.

As shown, the base 10 of the can is formed from sheet metal and the upper surface 11 of this base inclines downwardly from front to rear. rom the base 10 rise the uprights 12 also formed of sheet metal. As shown, the flanged lower portions 13.01 the uprights 12 are riveted, as at 14, to the base and the uprights 12 are connected together by bars 16 andl'? (see Fig. 1) that extend from side to side of the apparatus. Preferably, the bars 16 and 17 have their ends bent rearwardly, as at 18, to permit the bars to be conveniently riveted, as at 19, to the up rights 12.

The upper end of each of the uprights 12 is formed with a slot 20 in which removably set the lower end portions of the display plate 22. The lower end portions of the plate 22 are also slotted, as at 23 to afford a more secure engagement with the uprights 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the draw ings.

The transverse bars 16 and 17 which form part of the support for the cans or boxes containing the cigars to be displayed, are formed respectively with the slots 25 and 26, a single slot 25 being provided in the upper bar 16 opposite each can, and two slots 26 being provided in the lower bar 17 opposite each can.

Each of the cans in the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to l of the drawings, is provided at its upper end with a hook or tongue 31 that is formed integral with the wall of the can and such can is provided adjacent its bottom with one or more hooks or tongues 32 (two being shown) that are formed integral with the wall of the can and bent therefrom. The hook 31 is adapted to pass through the slot 25 of the crossbar 16 of the support and the hooks 32 are adapted to pass through the slots 26 of the lower cross-bar 17 of the support. WVhen the can is to be placed in the apparatus, the usual cover of the can will first be removed and the hook 31 will have its upper end bent slightly outward (see Fig. 3) while the free ends of the hooks 32 will be similarly bent outward. The hook 31 will first be passed through the slot 26 in the bar 16 and the can will be moved upward until the free ends of the hooks 32 are opposite the slots .26 in the lower bar 17, after which the can will be lowered until it rests upon the upper surface 11 of the base. The can will thus be securely locked to the supporting bars 16 and 17 by the hooks 31 and 32 that project from the wall of the can. Obviously, the number of hooks is not essential, nor is it essential that the hooks should be constructed or located precisely as shown. It is obvious, also, that instead of forming the can with hooks and the support with slots, or parts to engage such hooks, this arrangementfcould be reversed, this feature of the invention comprising broadly the combination with a can and its support, of hook and slot'means whereby said parts are detachably interlocked, regardless of the precise construction and location of such hook and slot means.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the hook and slot connection between the can and the support is effected at the bottom'of the can. In this form of the invention, the surface 11 of the base'is shown as provided with a raised part 40 having an oblong slot 41 formed therein; and the can 3O has its bottom wall formed with two outwardly projecting hooks 42 cut fro-m and formed integral with the bottom wall of the can. When the can 30 is to be placed in position upon the supporting base, the hooks 42 will be inserted through the slot 11 and a quarter revolution will then be given to the i I can, so as to cause the hooks to extend transversely of the slot, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. ofvthe drawings. The elasticity of the metal of the hooks 12 will aid in effecting a secure engagement of the can with the supporting base.

In either form of the invention above described, the apparatus is adapted for use only with cans having interlocking means of special construction and it will therefore be seen that the manufacturer who supplies the apparatus to the retail dealer is insured against the using of such apparatus for displaying the wares of other manufacturers by means of such apparatus.

Adjacent the upper ends of the uprights 12 is pivoted a shaft 50 to which is connected a lid or closure 51. Preferably this lid or closure 51 has downwardly flanged edges 52 and from the back of the lid or closure projects rearwardly the handle or lever 53. Hence, it will be seen that when the lid or closure 51 is resting upon the tops of the cans 30, and it is desired to display the contents of the cans, the salesman will depress the handle or lever 53, thereby causing the lid or closure 51 to be lifted from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

As shown, the lid or closure has mounted upon its upper surface, shallow trays 55 that are preferably secured thereto, as by the metal lips 56 that are struck up from the lid 51 and pass through slots in the tray 55, the ends of these metal lips 56 being bent down wardly, as shown in Fig. 1, to securely retain the trays in position upon the lid 51. Each tray 55 is slightly smaller than the covers 57 that constitute the tops of the cans 30, so that when the covers 57 are removed from the cans and placed on the trays 55 these trays serve not only to hold the covers in place, but also afford an effective receptacle for sheets of blotting paper 58, or like material, (see Fig. 2) which, when moistened, will maintain the cigars in fresh condition. The bottoms of the trays 55 are formed with holes 59 adapted to coincide with similar holes formed in the lid or cover 51; and preferably also, like holes are formed in a sheet of felt 60 that will be secured to the under side of the lid 51. Hence, it will be seen that when the lid 51 is in normally closed position, it will not only prevent access of dust or the like to the cigars contained within the cans 30, but moist air will pass from the tray 55 to the cans and thus maintain the cigars therein in fresh condition.

When the apparatus is to be packed for shipment, the display plate 22 will be lifted from engagement with the upper ends of the uprights 12 and can then be snugly packed against the back of the support. By forming the base from sheet metal, as I prefer to do, this base can be most conveniently and cheaply manufactured.

It is manifest that the precise details of construction above set out may be varied without departure from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a can support having a base the upper surface of which is inclined downwardly and forwardly, of a can having a locking device bent outwardly from one of its walls and means on the support for engaging said locking device.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with a can and a support for said can comprising a base and an upright frame, of a hook and slot connection between the can and the frame of said support whereby said can is detachably interlocked with sa1d support.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a can and a support comprising a base and an upright frame for said can, of a hook projecting from one of said parts, the other of said parts being provided with a slot whereby said can and upright frame are detachably secured together.

7 4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a can support comprising a base, uprights extending from said base and cross pieces extending between said uprights, cans supported upon said base, and means for attaching said cross pieces and said cans.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with packing cans, of a support comprising a base, apparatus extending from said base, a lid pivotally supported between said uprights, cross pieces extending between said uprights, cans supported upon said base, and means for attaching said cans and said cross pieces.

WILLIAM G. J. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

ELEANOR HAGENOW, KATHARINE GERLAGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the G'ommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

